Who is Caribou? Top Songs, Biography, and Music Lore

Arial Ten
Aug 21, 2024
3 min read

I'm Arial Ten and I wrote this because I've been heavily inspired by Caribou's music. If you like Caribou, you might like my warm groovy dance music.

Check Out my Music

My Connection to Caribou

An icon of the Canadian music scene and a role model for generations of producers, Caribou is a true force of nature.

Caribou is one of the few artists to completely charm both the indie and electronic worlds. He is a rare darling of both Pitchfork blog house world and the underground dance scene.

Caribou's smash hit "Can't Do Without You" and the entire "Our Love" album felt like it was played nonstop on my college campus. His classic "Odessa" even inspired ODESZA's namesake.

Caribou, or Dan Snaith, is able to turn seemingly simple melodies and hooks into complete earworms.

He takes the simplicity of classic house and adds in a subtle flair of indie and electronic in the most novel ways.

Sonically, he feels a bit like a precursor to Fred Again's explosion of popularity. I'd say he also reminds me of Jamie XX and Bonobo, other producing titans not afraid to do a little experimenting.

His use of his own voice is extremely inspiring and motivates me to one day experiment with my own.

And perhaps most importantly, I love that he has a PhD in mathematics.

He gives me tremendous hope that a career in music can be pursued later in life. He is a steadfast reminder that we can take our time to create art that truly matters to us.

He's put out 10 (!) albums and there is him little sign of slowing down.

You can check out my music here or follow me on Instagram.

Who is Caribou?

Caribou, the musical alias of Canadian artist Dan Snaith, is a master of blending genres like electronic, indie, and experimental music.

Originally performing under the name "Manitoba," Snaith switched to "Caribou" after a legal dispute, a name he reportedly chose during an LSD trip in the Canadian wilderness. His music often incorporates elements of electronic psychedelia, krautrock, and breakbeat drums, creating a lush, dynamic sound.

Snaith's debut album under the Caribou moniker, The Milk of Human Kindness (2005), showcased his ability to mix organic and electronic elements. However, it was his album Andorra (2008) that really put him on the map, winning the prestigious Polaris Music Prize. Another notable album, Swim (2010), ventured into dance music with a unique aquatic feel, inspired partly by Snaith's personal experience with swimming lessons.

Caribou is also known for his captivating live performances, often featuring simultaneous drummers and synchronized visuals. His live band includes members like Ryan Smith and Brad Weber, adding depth to his already rich studio productions.

Over the years, Caribou has collaborated with artists like Four Tet and Owen Pallett, further expanding his eclectic sound palette.

Snaith's work under Caribou has earned him several accolades, including a Juno Award for Electronic Album of the Year for Swim and another Polaris Prize nomination for Our Love (2014).